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The Marine Mammal Center is a nonprofit veterinary hospital, research, and educational center dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of ill and injured marine mammals and the study of their health. Since 1975, the Center has rescued and treated more than 16,500 marine mammals and has accumulated a body of knowledge about marine mammal and ocean health.Through public education about marine mammals, the Center hopes to foster ocean stewardship and conservation.For more information, visit http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Today, Sequence, a big male California sea lion that was rescued in Monterey a last month as a result of some nasty shark bites, was released back to the ocean at Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands. Weighing in at about 482 pounds at admit, Sequence is the biggest animal the Center has rescued so far this year. Once admitted, veterinarians tended to his wounds, including a serious one on his flipper. It’s not the first time Sequence has stranded. In October, 1995, Sequence, a pup then, was identified and observed by researchers at San Miguel Island as part of ongoing marine mammal health studies. In December 2004, he stranded and was rescued by The Marine Mammal Center. At that time, volunteers and staff treated him for a bacterial infection and released him. Fast-forward five years later to this year, a much bigger Sequence was back on site, this time recovering in the brand new facilities. Big and powerfully strong patients like him pose some handling challenges so staff and volunteers worked as a team to safely handle him in order to provide medical care. While on site, our team gathered some valuable samples that will provide a wealth of knowledge about him and sea lions in general.

It was a beautiful day for a release. A small group of staffers, volunteers and beachgoers gathered to watch as Sequence (now weighing in at over 500 pounds!) was rolled down to the beach in a large metal carrier. Once the door to the carrier was raised, it took only a matter of seconds for him to jump out and make a bee-line straight for the surf. While remnants of his wound are still visible, the salty ocean should finish the healing process nicely. Sequence's recovery and release are certainly something to be thankful for!